nimaamaa
The English word "mother" is translated into Ojibwe as nimaamaa. Wiktionary also lists ninga.
Meaning: female (human) who gives birth to or parents a child (noun)
Ways to say it
| Ojibwe |
|---|
| nimaamaa |
| ninga |
This noun refers to a female human who has given birth to or is parenting a child.
Did you know?
- In traditional Ojibwe kinship, the distinction between 'mother' and 'maternal aunt' is often blurred, as both are considered essential primary caregivers.
- The language uses an 'animate' and 'inanimate' gender system rather than 'masculine' and 'feminine', meaning nimaamaa is categorized as an animate noun.
- Because Ojibwe is a polysynthetic language, the root for 'mother' can be combined with other morphemes to create complex sentences within a single long word.
Examples in context
- Geyaabi jiibaakwe nimaamaa.My mother is still cooking.This sentence shows the use of nimaamaa in a common context.
Example conversation
Migizi is introducing his mother to Oma.
- MigiziOma, waaQuaternion nimaamaa.Oma, this is my mother.
- OmaBoozhoo, nimaamaa.Hello, mother.
- MigiziNimaamaa gichi-miinawaa.My mother loves you very much.
- OmaMiigwech, Migizi.Thank you, Migizi.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mother” translations and entries nimaamaa, ninga, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
